Page 19 (1/2)
PART 3: The Maze
Chapter 19
"You cannot You cannot do it alone," Howard said, with a shake of his head
"Yes, I can," said Gregor "Tell them why, Twitchtip"
Twitchtip raised one rat eyebrow at Gregor, to see if he was sure He nodded "All right, then," she said "He er"
The word had an effect on everybody Ares and Andros Howard's er?" he said "Ho you this?"
"Ragers put out a very specific scent when they fight," said Twitchtip "It's slight, even for me, but I can detect it I smelled it the first time I met the Overlander, but later wondered if I'd confused it with Ripred's scent He'd been fighting as well"
"I was hitting the blood balls that day," said Gregor "That was the first time I felt like that"
"Yes, and then when the squid attacked, I was certain about it," said Twitchtip "I told hier a few days later, but he denied it"
There was a pause, and Gregor could feel the others watching him "Because I didn't want it to be true But that doesn'thappens when I fight Soer thing on ht"
"Well, say it is true, Gregor, and you are a rager It does not make you immortal It does not mean you can walk into a maze full of rats alone," said Howard
"He will not be alone," said Ares "I will be with him"
"And I'll lead hiot a good whiff of white fur before I lost et him close"
"Then Andromeda and I will come, too," said Howard
"You're not invited," said Gregor
"What?" said Howard
"I don't want you in the maze, Howard I want you to take Mareth back and tell people what happened Someone has to And if I don't coet word to e of this alia"
"Okay, but if you try to follow or
"You will not stand a chance on foot, fighting a rager on a flier," said Ares
"Especially with a rat on their side," threw in Twitchtip
Hoas starting to lose it now "Maybe I will take that chance! Maybe Androo back I don't wantfor Boots andto happen And sooner or later, if we don't show up, I know they'll coalia, too About Luxa They have to find a new queen or king now, right? Because no matter what Luxa said, Nerissa probably can't handle it So it will be Vikus, then your mom, and then you But if you die, it will be --"